Why Playful Leadership Matters
Technical teams often focus on process, efficiency, and tools. But leadership isn’t only about steering work. It’s about creating spaces where people feel safe, engaged, and inspired. That’s where playful leadership comes in. It's not just fun - it’s a way to build trust, sharpen thinking, and foster stronger collaboration.
Lessons from ACE! Conference 2025
At the end of May, our two Magebit Agile Coaches attended the ACE! Conference in Krakow, which featured two main tracks:
- Building Software Better - focused on process and practices
- Building Better Products - focused on product discovery and value
The central theme of the conference was "Us and Them. Together." It explored relationships in different contexts - between developers and business, leadership and teams, companies and clients. The message was clear: strong products and processes begin with strong human connections.
One standout talk came from Portia Tung on the topic of Playful Leadership. Her insights sparked fresh thinking around how we lead and how we build culture.
What We’ve Learned at Magebit
Our values at Magebit - Agility, Relationships, and Quality - were reflected in every session we attended. The speakers reminded us: good leadership doesn’t just drive delivery. It creates safe, joyful, and inclusive environments where teams can thrive.
Play isn’t a distraction from serious work. It’s a strategy for doing better work, together.
Integrating Games into Agile Workshops
We’re fortunate that most of our workshops take place on-site. This allows us to use a wide range of visual and hands-on materials - including sticky notes, flip charts, and various props. The games we use are often physical and interactive, helping people engage fully with the experience.
Of course, we also occasionally organize remote workshops. And while the format changes, the core idea remains the same: interaction matters. We utilize tools like Miro and virtual breakout rooms to maintain the same level of dynamism and engagement in remote sessions.
Some examples of how we bring playful leadership to life through games in our Agile workshops:
- Start with energy: We use quick warm-up games to break the ice and boost energy
- Learn through play: Games are tied to the workshop’s goal, helping people explore a theme hands-on
- Close with connection: Fun activities help wrap up sessions on a high note
Why Games Work: Human Connection in Action
Games do more than entertain. They:
- Break down barriers - Everyone plays as equals
- Strengthen trust - Teams bond when they laugh and learn together
- Support inclusion - Different thinkers shine in different games
- Encourage reflection - Games spark "aha" moments that stick
Real Examples of Play at Work
Some of the games we use are ones we’ve seen somewhere or experienced at conferences and seminars. We design others - tailored to our teams, our context, and the lessons we want to share. For example, the board game we built for our company goals retrospective was developed completely in-house.
Here are a few of the games we have used:
- Custom Activities Based on Workshop Themes: We’ve designed dozens of short games that reflect the content of each workshop. They’re not generic - they relate to the session goal. And people look forward to them.
- We’ve even seen Project Managers reuse them with their teams later on.
- Board Game for Company Retrospective
To reflect on company goals, we developed a custom board game. A large circle was divided into multiple segments, and tokens were moved from the outer edge toward the center. Each step involved searching for answers to thought-provoking questions, uncovering successes and challenges, and identifying top priorities for the year ahead.- What we learned: Visual progress helps keep focus. Game-based retrospectives facilitate deeper reflection and enhanced team engagement.
- Warm-up Games for Energy and Engagement: Coordination Maze
- As a group, participants must move the marker through a maze to reach the exit.
- What we learned: True coordination happens when every team member is attuned to the group. It's a test of patience, teamwork, and shared focus.
- As a group, participants must move the marker through a maze to reach the exit.
- Warm-up Games for Energy and Engagement: Silent Movement Chain
- Everyone stands in a line. The first person performs a short sequence of movements. They show it to the next person, once, silently. The sequence travels down the line, one person at a time. Ultimately, the final version is compared to the original.
- What we learned: Communication is fragile. Each step adds room for error. It highlights why clarity matters in teams.
- Everyone stands in a line. The first person performs a short sequence of movements. They show it to the next person, once, silently. The sequence travels down the line, one person at a time. Ultimately, the final version is compared to the original.
Building a Culture of Joy and Learning
At Magebit, play isn’t reserved for workshops. It's part of daily life:
- Teams include quick check-ins and jokes in retrospectives
- Internal Slack channels are filled with memes, GIFs, and small wins
- Board games and casual meetups build real friendships at work
This playful culture supports Agile thinking:
- It encourages openness and feedback
- It creates psychological safety
- It helps teams self-organize with confidence
Games remove hierarchy for a moment. Everyone is just human, not just a specialist, not just a title.
Final Thoughts
At Magebit, we’ve seen how a little play can create a lot of value - stronger relationships, more transparent communication, and a culture that people want to be part of.
Yes, games and playful leadership take time to prepare. But the payoff is enormous. When people feel energized, included, and safe, they’re more likely to experiment, speak up, and support each other. That’s not fluff - it’s the foundation of great Agile teamwork.
Let’s keep playing.
